YuBalance
After a period of personal struggles, Shala Cox discovered the transformative power of fitness to improve both her physical and mental health. A Bay Area native, she wanted to empower…
McWoods Distribution
Joel McGill finds himself having some unusual conversations in the airport security line these days. He usually opens with: “Hey, where do you guys get your rubber gloves from?” McWoods…
Courtsmith
Courtney Smith’s passion for fusing together art, basketball, and fashion came through at an early age. He started his first sports apparel company when he was just 24 years old.…
Ade Dream
Ade Dream is a labor of love for husband-and-wife team Pierre and Jenn Davis. They started the business in 2014, a year after their first child was born. Pierre’s sister…
Strategy Squad
Nicole Middleton is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ with her firm, Strategy Squad, which she co-manages with her father, a Certified Public Accountant. The firm focuses on financial planning and investment…
Threadz Culture + Fashion
Before they started their business, Christopher McMichael and Maurion Gaines came together over their shared passion for music. In 2012, Chris was working security and kept hitting ceilings as he…
Chef Ron’s Pastries
In 2004 Chef Ron’s Pastries started like many business: doing small orders here and there for family and friends. In 2015 brother and sister Ron and Rhonda Persons officially launched…
Wellington Studio
“The mentorship I’m receiving in the Entrepreneur in Residence program is giving me the tools and showing me the realities of how to attain more success and balance in my business,” reflects Chamaine.
Minnie Bell’s Soul Movement
“Taking advantage of resources is what has helped my business survive,” reflects Fernay. “Workshops, classes, and meetings are easy to overlook, but these resources (Enterprising Women, La Cocina, and now Main Street Launch) are what have helped my business grow.”
Civil Labs
Civil Labs is a social enterprise with a mission to empower young people to make change in their community, and to give them the resources to do so. The Oakland-based business is developing a food community center that provides space for after-school youth programming and commercial kitchens for area food entrepreneurs.